Fluid coupling with gasket retainer

Abstract: A gasket and retainer assembly for a tube coupling arranged such that the gasket can be installed into, and removed from, a retained and supported position between the coupling components with a strictly lateral movement. The assembly includes a retainer having a pair of engagement portions located on generally diametrically opposite sides of the gasket to radially grip the associated coupling component.

Description: The subject invention is directed toward the art of fluid couplings and, more particularly, to a coupling of the face sealing type which incorporates an improved arrangement for supporting a sealing gasket between the opposed sealing faces. In the prior commonly assigned U.S. Patent Nos. 4,552,389, 4,650,227, and 4,838,583, there are disclosed fluid couplings which include retainer arrangements for positioning and locating a gasket between the opposed seal faces of a fluid system device or coupling component. In the retainer arrangements of these prior patents, the coupling components must be disconnected and axially separated before the gasket and the associated retainer can be removed and replaced. Thus, generally, in order to allow replacement of gaskets, the pipe or tubing system had to be designed to permit axial separation of the coupling components such as through the use of additional fittings and removable sections. The subject invention overcomes the noted problems and provides a coupling arrangement wherein the gaskets can be inserted and removed with a strictly radial movement. The sealing face surfaces thus need to be moved axially only by an amount sufficient to achieve disengagement from the gasket to allow gasket removal and replacement. It is thus possible to perform maintenance, component replacement, and the like with a minimum of system disassembly. According to the present invention, there is provided a fluid coupling including first and second coupling components with cylindrical end portions carrying sealing end faces located in axial alignment and clamping means for moving the sealing end faces into sealing engagement with a flat circular metal gasket positioned therebetween, characterised by: retainer means for positioning and holding the gasket in alignment with the sealing end faces and permitting lateral insertion and removal of the gasket and the retainer means while the end faces are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the gasket, the retainer means including a pair of engagement portions joined to the gasket and extending therefrom in a direction generally perpendicular to the sealing end faces at locations on diametrically opposite sides of the cylindrical end portion of the second coupling component, the engagement portions including biasing means for causing the engagement portions to grip the cylindrical end portion of the second coupling component to retain the gasket and the retaining means in position thereon, the retainer means being entirely open and unobstructed about the circumference of the gasket for slightly less than 180° of the gasket. Because of the design, it is possible to install and remove the gasket while the coupling components are substantially in their final located position. That is, it is necessary to separate the coupling components only an amount sufficient to cause disengagement of their sealing faces from the gasket. The gasket can thus be installed and removed while the major components of the fluid coupling are in their final located positions. It is not necessary to provide special removable components or pieces to allow gasket replacement to take place. The gasket retainer means may be formed integrally with the gasket. Alternatively, it is possible for the gasket retainer means to be one or more separate components which are clipped to or mechanically joined with the gasket. The gasket retainer means in its preferred form has a generally C-shaped body and the engagement portions are defined by the ends of the C-shaped body. In addition, it is preferable that the C-shaped body be joined to the gasket at a point generally mid-way between the ends of the C-shaped body so that the end portions are resiliently flexible radially relative to the gasket and the point of connection. The gasket retainer means can comprise a pair of generally diametrically opposed leg portions which are separately joined at opposite sides of the gasket and define the engagement portions. The engagement portions of the gasket retainer means may be integral portions of a single spring metal element. Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- FIGURE 1 is an isometric view showing a coupling assembly in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the coupling assembly of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is an enlarged isometric view of the coupling assembly of FIGURE 1 with the female coupling nut removed; FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of the preferred form of gasket and retainer assembly as used in the FIGURES 1 through 3 embodiment; FIGURE 5 is a left-end view of the gasket and retainer assembly shown in FIGURE 4; FIGURE 6 is a side view of the gasket retainer of FIGURE 5 (the view is taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5); FIGURE 7 is a partial cross-sectional view through a coupling assembly of the type shown in FIGURE 1 with the female coupling nut ring removed and showing the manner of installing the gasket and retainer assembly; FIGURE 8 is an elevational view of a second embodiment of gasket and retainer assembly; FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view of the gasket and retainer assembly of FIGURE 8 (the view is taken on line 9-9 of FIGURE 8); FIGURE 10 is an elevational view of a third gasket and retainer assembly embodiment; FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIGURE 10 (the view is taken on line 11-11 of FIGURE 10); FIGURE 12 is an elevational view of a gasket retainer in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 13-13 of FIGURE 12; and, FIGURE 14 is a cross-sectional view through a gasket member for use in the FIGURES 12 and 13 embodiment. Detailed Description of the Preferred and Alternate Embodiments Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred and alternate embodiments only, and not for the purpose of limiting same, FIGURE 1 shows a face seal type fitting often used in vacuum and high pressure systems and generally comprising a first coupling component 12 and a second coupling component 14 joined by threaded clamping means including threaded male portion 16 formed on coupling component 12 and a female nut member 18 which receives coupling component 14 and threadedly engages the male threaded portion 16 of coupling component 12 . As can be seen in FIGURE 2, in the subject embodiment, the coupling component 12 includes a sealing face or end 20 which has a circumferentially extending sealing protuberance 22 shown in the form of a bead. It should be appreciated, however, that it is within the scope of the subject invention to have a variety of different forms of sealing face protuberances carried on the face 20 . The second coupling component 14 likewise includes a sealing end face 24 which is also provided with an outwardly extending sealing protuberance 26 that is also shown in the form of a smoothly curved bead element. In this embodiment, the two coupling components 12 and 14 each include a central through passage 12a and 14a , respectively. It should be understood, however, that one or the other of the coupling components could be a blind element such as is used for full line closures or plugs. Likewise, although the invention is described with reference to a fluid connection coupling, the individual seal faces could be formed integrally with various types of flow system devices such as valves, filter elements, and the like. Referring again to FIGURES 2 and 3, the coupling assembly of the subject invention includes a gasket and retainer assembly 30 which is positioned between the mating aligned coupling components 12 , 14 . As best illustrated in FIGURES 4 through 6, the assembly 30 has a flat metal annulus-like gasket portion 32 that includes a central opening 34 and a circular outer periphery 36 . The gasket is sized to allow the sealing protuberances 22 , 26 to engage on opposite sides of the gasket and penetrate slightly thereinto to produce a fluid seal when the coupling components 12 and 14 are driven axially toward one another and into engagement with the gasket 32 . In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the gasket and retainer assembly 30 is arranged such that the gasket can be installed into, and removed from, a retained and supported position between the coupling components 12 and 14 with a strictly lateral (i.e. radial) movement of the gasket and retainer assembly. In this regard, the retainer includes a retainer portion 40 that has a pair of engagement portions 42 and 44 that are located on generally diametrically opposite sides of the gasket as illustrated in FIGURE 5. The engagement portions 42 , 44 are spaced apart a distance generally corresponding to the diameter of the circular end portion of the coupling component to which they are to be connected. In this embodiment, and as illustrated in FIGURE 2, they engage about the circular end of coupling component 14 to locate the gasket 30 . Each of the engagement portions 42 and 44 have an arcuate inner face which corresponds to the curvature of the end face of coupling component 14 . Additionally, the engagement portions are arranged so as to have a bias toward one another and, in their normal non-installed position, have a distance between them which is less than the diameter of the end portion of coupling component 14 . Additionally, as can be seen in FIGURE 5, the gasket and retainer assembly is laterally open throughout the arcuate portion A as illustrated in FIGURE 5. This lateral open extent is only slightly less than 180° of the gasket periphery. As can be seen from the foregoing, the relationship between the engagement portions and the gasket 32 is such that the gasket can be moved laterally into position on the cylindrical end portion of the coupling component. This is illustrated in FIGURE 7 wherein the gasket and retainer assembly 30 is illustrated moving laterally between the sealing end faces of the coupling components 12 and 14 while the coupling components are in axial aligned position with their sealing end faces spaced an amount only slightly greater than the thickness of the gasket portion 32 of the assembly 30 . Thus, replacement of gasket members can take place with the coupling components nearly in their normal assembled position in the piping or tubing system. This is in direct contradistinction to the typical prior art assembly wherein the gaskets and their retainers are capable of being moved into position only through an axial loading movement which requires significantly greater spacing between the end faces. This generally necessitates disassembly of a portion of the piping system and/or the inclusion of separate additional components in the system to allow such separation. There are many ways in which the contact surfaces 42 , 44 can be provided and can have the biased relationship necessary for radially gripping the cylindrical end of the fitting components to maintain the gasket member in position. The FIGURES 4 through 6 gasket and retainer assembly has the retainer contact portions formed by the ends of a resilient C-shaped body element that is formed as an integral part of the gasket and joined thereto by an intermediate single web section 48 . The C-shaped body is a flat resilient element having a curvature generally corresponding to the outer peripheral edge of gasket 32 which is, in turn, sized to the cylindrical end portion of the coupling component on which the assembly is to be mounted. FIGURES 8 and 9 illustrate a slightly modified form for the gasket and retainer assembly. In this embodiment, the same elements are identified by the same numerals differentiated from the FIGURES 4 through 6 embodiment by the addition of a prime (') suffix. As shown therein, the C-shaped body which forms the retainer portion and defines the engagement portions 42' and 44' is formed as a separate element and is connected to the periphery of the gasket 32' by being spot welded at intermediate locations 50 , 51 , and 52 . This allows the end portions of the C-shaped body, which form the contacts 42' and 44' , to be somewhat flexible and resilient relative to the gasket 30' and allows them to flex diametrically toward and away from one another to provide a biased gripping force. FIGURES 10 and 11 show a third embodiment which uses the same identifying numerals differentiated by a double prime ('') suffix. In the embodiment, the contact portions 42'' an 44'' are formed by separate curved members shaped as shown and connected to the gasket 30'' by, for example, a spot welding at locations 53 and 54 , respectively. This also allows radial flexing and diametrically opposed gripping and biasing of the contact portions. It should be noted that in both the FIGURES 8 - 9 and the FIGURES 10 - 11 embodiments the arrangement is such that the retainer portion is open throughout nearly 180° of the periphery of the associated gasket. FIGURES 12 through 14 are a fourth embodiment of the gasket and retainer assembly (the same numerals and triple prime (''') suffixes are used) wherein the C-shaped body of the retainer 30''' is formed and arranged as discussed with reference to the C-shaped body of the FIGURES 4 - 6 embodiment. However, extending from the C-shaped body is a gasket gripping portion 60 which is also provided as a C-shaped body but includes a series of closely spaced gripping elements 62 that engage the narrow peripheral edge of the gasket 64 illustrated in FIGURE 14. That is, the gasket 64 of FIGURE 14 includes an outwardly extending, narrow peened or machined portion 66 that can be slid between the narrow pairs of gripping elements 62 and retained therein during movement of the gasket and retainer assembly into mounted position on the coupling components. The arrangement of the gasket retainer of the subject invention is such that original assembly of the components is facilitated. The radial movement for mounting the gasket and retainer permits simpler automation of the installation as compared with the axial movement required by the prior art arrangements. The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims as properly interpreted under EPC Article 69 and its Protocol.

Claims: A fluid coupling including first and second coupling components (12, 14) with cylindrical end portions carrying sealing end faces (20, 24) located in axial alignment and clamping means (18) for moving the sealing end faces into sealing engagement with a flat circular metal gasket (32, 64) positioned therebetween, characterised by: retainer means (40, 30''') for positioning and holding the gasket (32, 64) in alignment with the sealing end faces (20, 24) and permitting lateral insertion and removal of the gasket (32, 64) and the retainer means (40, 30''') while the end faces are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the gasket, the retainer means (40, 30''') including a pair of engagement portions (42, 44) joined to the gasket (32, 64) and extending therefrom in a direction generally perpendicular to the sealing end faces (20, 24) at locations on diametrically opposite sides of the cylindrical end portion of the second coupling component (14), the engagement portions (42, 44) including biasing means for causing the engagement portions to grip the cylindrical end portion of the second coupling component (14) to retain the gasket (32, 64) and the retaining means (40, 30''') in position thereon, the retainer means (40, 30''') being entirely open and unobstructed about the circumference of the gasket (32, 64) for slightly less than 180° of the gasket. The fluid coupling as defined in claim 1, wherein the retainer means (40) is formed integrally with the gasket (32). The fluid coupling as defined in claim 1, wherein the engagement portions (42, 44) have concave gripping surfaces sized to the outer surface of the cylindrical end portion of the second coupling component (14) to produce engagement over an arcuate portion of the cylindrical end portion of the second coupling component. The fluid coupling as defined in claim 3, wherein the concave gripping surfaces are joined integrally with the gasket (32). The fluid coupling as defined in claim 3, wherein each of the concave gripping surfaces is joined to the gasket (30'') by a separate connecting portion (53, 54). The fluid coupling as defined in claim 3, wherein the concave gripping surfaces are joined to the gasket (32) by a single connecting portion (48) and the gasket has a circular outer periphery (36). The fluid coupling as defined in claim 6, wherein the concave gripping surfaces are defined by a single C-shaped member (40) located adjacent the exterior periphery (36) of the gasket (32). The fluid coupling as defined in claim 3, wherein the engagement portions are integral portions of a single spring metal element. The fluid coupling as defined in claim 1, wherein the retainer means (30''') is provided with means (62) for resiliently clipping onto the gasket (64).

Inventors: BABUDER GERALD A, MOLENKAMP MICHAEL J, BABUDER, GERALD A., MOLENKAMP, MICHAEL J.
Applicants: CAJON CO, CAJON COMPANY
Application year: 1994
Main classification: F16L19
IPC codes: F16J15, F16L19